News & Issues

Alberta Party denounces Jason Kenney’s stance on outing LGBTQ children

Posted on March 29, 2017 by

The Alberta Party is denouncing comments made by PC Leader Jason Kenney regarding GSAs yesterday in an editorial board meeting with Postmedia.

In his comments, Mr. Kenney advocates for parents being notified when a student requests to form a GSA or partakes in such a club. The right to students having a GSA was enshrined in law by a bill enacted by the previous PC government in Bill 10.

“Jason Kenney can talk about being inclusive and supportive of LGBTQ people, but this ideological stance has the potential to cause harm, homelessness and the death of marginalized youth who do not have a supportive family environment” said Alberta Party Board Member and Regional Organizer for Edmonton, Robbie Kreger-Smith – himself a member of the LGBTQ community.

Statistics show that 33% of LGB youth have attempted suicide in comparison to 7% of youth in general. Adolescent youth who have been rejected by their families are over 8 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers.

The statistics for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender homeless youth are even more shocking. LGBT youth account for 40% of all young people experiencing homelessness.

“The law is on the side of students who feel that they may be at risk from having their sexual orientation disclosed without their consent to their parents” said Alberta Party Leader, Greg Clark. “Most parents are supportive and caring and have a relationship built on respect and open communication with their children. The concern here isn’t those parents.”

“One child being forced into an abusive situation, made homeless, or taking their life because of a family situation that isn’t supportive is one too many. Children need to have the autonomy to decide when they are ready to come out and who to” elaborated Kreger-Smith.

“The Alberta Party stands with youth who are marginalized and we feel that this stance by Mr. Kenney demonstrates his social conservative credentials and why he is not fit to lead Alberta. Dividing Albertans is not good for the Province, and we need a Premier that will respect human rights and look after the fiscal state of the Province. It should not and does not have to be either or” said Clark.